Just got back from a grueling day of guitar shopping. One thing about guitar shopping is that the salesmen don’t tend to be dicks (they just happen to be very busy). I was able to discuss my desires and found the types of gear I was looking for quickly.

First and foremost, there will be no Stratocaster or Telecaster in my future. I simply do not like the feel of them. I tried many types, including the $1500+ models to see if maybe the American made, high end babies were better suited, and… no. They just didn’t feel right to me. Most of them had actions that were too high and the spacing between the strings didn’t work for me. They might have sounded good, but I never even bothered plugging one in, I could tell it wasn’t for me.

Second, I swore I wasn’t going to look at Ibanez because I can’t seem to see them as anything but shredder guitars which isn’t the sound I was going after. However, I did play around with an ART320 and was very pleased with its sound and speed

The problem was when I flipped it over. It has Active Electronics. This is not a terrible thing minus the fact that you need batteries, however I think the sound is just a bit sterile. It was beautiful, don’t get me wrong, and my style and level of playing probably would not find itself limited by the active pickups, but there’s just something about having to ensure you have batteries that is disconcerting. This was the cheapest of the three and still would not be a bad choice. It had that fast fretboard I like and the weight was considerably lighter than the LP.

Next on the list was an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus in translucent blue

The funny thing was I picked up a few $1000+ Les Pauls, including the USA made Gibsons and yes, there’s a fit & finish difference, but playing wise and sound I just couldn’t really tell the difference. The action was perfect on this one as well as being adjustable so the fast feel I was looking for was there. The guitar had warm, clean tones and really could play through the heaviest of distortion. This isn’t a guitar for covering Megadeth songs on, and that’s not what I am looking for, but it still could hold its own chunking out a Van Halen rhythm. Passive pickups, so no battery changes!

Finally, the one I loved the most, a Paul Reed Smith SE245

Oh yeah, the sound from this puppy was amazing. It held its own in solos, had that clean, hollow sound (or, since I have chromesthesia, a ‘blue’ sound) I was wanting. It did great with distortions, each note being clearly discernable. Interesting, my inner synesthete found the distorted sounds to be more ‘red’ than their normal ‘orange’. I wonder if the color of the guitar had anything to do with it.

The weight of the PRS was less than the LP but more than the Ibanez. The LP had amazing sustain. Even using headphones, a note would linger well into the time my fingers got tired. The PRS and Ibanez were no slouches in that arena either but didn’t hold as long as the LP. Granted, holding a single note for more than 30 seconds is one of those rare occurrences and probably should not factor into guitar selection that heavily.

The PRS and the LP were both the same price, minus the fact that the PRS came with a ‘gig bag’. I don’t need a hard case yet as I’m not travelling, so a soft bag will do fine for now. Unfortunately, the PRS was the only one at any store, and since I do not have the physical cash to pay for any of them now, I have a feeling by the time I save up the money in 2 months the PRS will be gone. Looking online, I can’t get it any cheaper than the store was selling it, so if I get to the point where I think I must have it, then it’ll probably be closer to 3 months before I can pick one up.

Sadly, I need a new guitar. My Charvel, bless its dinged up, rusted potentiometer heart, just isn’t the sound I want any more. It’s fast enough of a fret board, but the strings are closer together than I like and I can’t bend without plucking 2 or 3 others. I’ve got a buddy who I will be giving it to when I get a new fiddle so it won’t get put in the trash which is good. I’ve had it for 25+ years and I’m fond of the thing.

Now for the hard part – the waiting. Unless a few of you want to toss in a Benjamin or two* into the tip jar so I can speed things up ;) Sucks, but you don’t stay debt free by purchasing things you don’t have the money for. Technically, I could shuffle around family finances to do it, but this is for me and it should come out of my ‘blow’ money. So, I’ve got about $300 set aside right now, another 2 months will see me at my goal unless something pops up that I asolutely must have.

Any thoughts on the selected guitars?

*I’m kidding. There are a million things better to spend your money on than toys for me

posted by by Robb Allen @ 10/14/2012 4:39:57 PM

Comments

Since you're having to wait to build the funds, pamper yourself and at least take a look around at some custom makers.

If you'll frequent the Les Paul forums you'll find contact info for a lot of up-and-coming electric luthiers. You'll find that the skill level of even the dedicated amateurs is far and away better than what you can find in a shop.

The PRS line is awesome. But you shoot a glock, so your probably not high brow enough to fit in with the PRS owner crowd.

The Les Paul and the Ibanez almost certainly have lacquered or gloss finished necks. Does the PRS? I prefer a satin finished neck and I thought some of the PRS necks were satin.

Have you looked at the ESP / LTD line up? The EC series is sweet. What about the Line6 Variax? The 59 is definately on my list. Of course, the fore mentioned guitars require batteries as the ESPs are active and the Line6 is from another planet.

I wouldn't (and don't) worry about having a battery in my guitars. If you're not playing out, and you don't leave it plugged in all the time, you'll rarely need a spare 9v. And really, you should have spare 9v batteries for other stuff in your house anyway.

Just like a gun owner, I tend to favor the guitars I own. I have a couple ESPs, a couple Schecters, and for acoustics I'm a Takamine fan. I always wanted a Tele too, but the necks are awful unless you have massive paws and long fingers.

Sadly, pawn shops tend to get a little too excited whenever they get a guitar that isn't plywood crap, and price it waaaay too much. Buying a used guitar is like buying a used gun- one needs a bit of knowledge, luck, and lots of patience.

If you ever plan to play in a band and do shows, I would suggest staying away from the LP. They are monstrously heavy and while they sound good, you stop caring after standing for an hour and a half with one of these back destroyers strapped to you. I owned one of those Epi LPs and haven't looked back since I switched to one of the lower end Gibson SGs, which is no joke probably 7 lbs lighter.

Also, if you do buy from the store check the intonation before you buy. It can be adjusted pretty easily, but if it's way far off it may be out of the range of the adjustment.

Having owned a few guitars, I have to say its a lot like owning guns. You have to go with what feels right and works right for you. I've had a Strat copy, but it was cheap and had a horrible sound. The Gibson I had many moons ago was beautiful and sounded pretty, but it was a brick to hold. The National LP copy I inherited has similar characteristics. I've never played a PRS, but I enjoy their sound in the hands of Carlos Santana. I think Eddie Van Halen switched to them in the Van Hagar years too. I knew a guy that did magical things with a Washburn bass. Don't recall if they do six strings or not. That's as deep as it gets here.

PRS make great sounding guitars. Gibson also, and they don't start at 1000 bucks. When you start getting into better pickups and ebony fretboards and quality machine heads? That adds up quick. Save for the PRS, it is a quality instrument.

Actions can be adjusted by a slight tuning turn on the truss rod. So don't count the Fenders out. They make C neck models and U neck models, you just have to really look and know. Your goals should be to own a Tele, and Strat, a LP, a 12 string and some others.

IF you start gigging with a guitar, you will have more repair time on the Epiphones and lower cost guitars over time. The wood is not equal, but paint may be, and the frets and neck on a higher quality will not wear as soon.

@Danytheman I am by no means an expert but I thought you adjust the action with the bridge and use the truss rod to adjust the bend in the neck. The bend in the neck can affect the action but I would not use it to adjust the action unless the the neck is either to concave or convex which can affect sound and intonation.

If it were my money I'd go exactly what you have done. Go to a large retailer and play alot of guitars and buy the one that suited you best.

An Asian PRS is a good guitar for the money if you like it, buy with confidence. Let me just add as a certified guitar snob I'd much rather have an Asian PRS than an Asian Les Paul.

If you are going to buy mail order it's a total crapshoot. I've been playing over 40 years and honestly, two seemingly identical guitars can sound pretty different. Music123.com has the best deals on music equipment I've come across. IF they are featuring an item you want, you won't find a better deal anywhere.

@BenC That's correct. The bend is actually called "neck relief" and is adjusted with the truss rod. On an acoustic guitar, with the first and fourteenth fret held down, you should just get a business card in between the string and seventh fret or so. Saddle height is where the action is properly adjusted. A proper check and adjustment of the nut grooves (which should be done before action is adjusted) completes the setup.

I have over 40 years at bang and twang, so I can honestly say that it's about fit, and feel, and sound. Don't get hung on the name, try the different types, choose yours, and get it. Daly Music sells great knockoffs of the greats, just pick your type.First.

No kidding about a crapshoot. Daughter and I were once looking at acoustics, and a $400 off-brand I tried kicked the ass of the $2k Martin next to it; better sound and better action both. One was made on a real good day, the other on a real off day.